Congress Pushes for 35 Seats in Tamil Nadu Elections as DMK Holds Firm on Limited Increase
In the high-stakes seat-sharing negotiations for the upcoming Tamil Nadu elections, the Congress party has formally demanded 35 seats, while its alliance leader, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), is reportedly willing to concede only "two or three seats" beyond its previous allocation of 25 seats from the 2021 polls. This development follows a series of critical meetings between top leaders from both parties, as multiple sources revealed to TOI.
Key Meetings and Demands in Chennai
A day after AICC general secretary K C Venugopal met with Chief Minister M K Stalin, a delegation comprising AICC in-charge for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Girish Chodankar and TNCC chief K Selvaperunthagai visited DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi at her residence in Chennai. The Congress leaders explicitly sought an increased seat share, with a DMK source confirming, "Congress asked for 35 seats." In response, Kanimozhi assured the delegation that she would consult with the chief minister before making any decisions.
As previously reported by TOI, the Congress has strategically decided not to pursue power-sharing demands during these talks. Instead, the party is focusing on securing more influential positions in local bodies, including mayoral posts, as part of a quid pro quo arrangement.
Negotiation Dynamics and Alliance Challenges
Sources with insider knowledge of the DMK-Congress discussions disclosed that the national party initially opened with a demand for 41 seats. However, the DMK countered by emphasizing that all allies should accept a reduction in their seat allocations due to the inclusion of ten additional partners in the alliance this election cycle. The DMK initially proposed retaining the 25-seat allocation for Congress but later indicated a possible increase of two or three seats.
Notably, the DMK has communicated that Congress will not be assigned the same constituencies as in the previous election. "We (DMK) told them we would take some of the tough constituencies and give them easier ones," a source explained, highlighting the strategic reshuffling aimed at optimizing the alliance's electoral prospects.
The expansion of the DMK alliance includes new entrants such as DMDK, MNM, MJK, SDPI, Mukkulathor Pulipadai, and Kongu Ilaignar Peravai. A DMK leader pointed out, "We need to allocate at least seven seats to DMDK," underscoring the complex balancing act required to accommodate multiple partners while maintaining coalition harmony.
Post-Meeting Statements and Additional Demands
Following the meeting, Girish Chodankar addressed reporters, describing the discussions as "positive." He clarified that the talks centered on two key issues: the allocation of a Rajya Sabha seat for Congress and an enhanced share of seats in local bodies. The meeting with Kanimozhi extended over two hours, reflecting the depth and intensity of the negotiations.
During the dialogue, the Congress delegation pushed for 25% of seats in the forthcoming local body elections. Additionally, they sought a written assurance for a Rajya Sabha seat, as per sources, indicating the party's broader strategy to strengthen its organizational footprint beyond the immediate electoral contest.
